The poems of George Daniel ... From the original mss. in the British Museum: Hitherto unprinted. Edited, with introduction, notes, and illustrations, portrait, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart: In four volumes |
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 | Chap. xvi. The poems of George Daniel |  |
9
XVI. Chap. xvi.
Desire not many Children; if they be
Vngodly, thinke it noe felicitie
To have such store; for some are only giv'n,
True blessings, when they feare the Lord of Heauen:
Let not thy hopes live in them; better farre
Is one Son Iust then Multitudes wch are
Froward and sinfull. Better 'tis to Die
Summed in himselfe, then leave a Progenie
Of Wickednes: for one of Wisedome shall
Populate Nations, but the Wicked fall
To Nothing suddenly; Ev'n these, my Eyes,
Have seene such things; but greater far then these,
Our Fathers have reported. In the Congresse
Of Sinners, fire shall flame & never cease.
Wrath shall Devour the haughty Nation,
As ruthles fire. Those Men of high renowne,
Giants in Ages past, who fell away
In folly of their owne strength, they, ev'n they,
Have knowne his fury: neither was againe
That City Spar'd, where Lot did entertaine
Two Angells; but aboundant vengeance was,
In ffire and Brimstone, rainéd on the Place,
The City Sodome. His vnrelenting Eye
Did see the wicked fall away and Dye;
That mighty hoast, (sixe hundred Thousand Men)
Despising Heauen, summonéd to profane
The power of God; yet they haue felt his wrath.
And if but one in thousands of a faith
Repugnant, he shall not for ever be
Vnpunishéd; for these are, Equally
“In him, Mercy & Wrath: he can forgiue
“Beyond all Crime; but if the sinner live
“Obstinate in Offence, his Clemencie
“Is then reverst; he thunders, & they die.
“Both equall in him, and both Infinite,
“Rewarding Men, as they doe wrong or right.
Vngodly, thinke it noe felicitie
To have such store; for some are only giv'n,
True blessings, when they feare the Lord of Heauen:
Let not thy hopes live in them; better farre
Is one Son Iust then Multitudes wch are
Froward and sinfull. Better 'tis to Die
Summed in himselfe, then leave a Progenie
Of Wickednes: for one of Wisedome shall
Populate Nations, but the Wicked fall
To Nothing suddenly; Ev'n these, my Eyes,
Have seene such things; but greater far then these,
Our Fathers have reported. In the Congresse
Of Sinners, fire shall flame & never cease.
Wrath shall Devour the haughty Nation,
As ruthles fire. Those Men of high renowne,
Giants in Ages past, who fell away
In folly of their owne strength, they, ev'n they,
Have knowne his fury: neither was againe
That City Spar'd, where Lot did entertaine
Two Angells; but aboundant vengeance was,
In ffire and Brimstone, rainéd on the Place,
The City Sodome. His vnrelenting Eye
Did see the wicked fall away and Dye;
That mighty hoast, (sixe hundred Thousand Men)
Despising Heauen, summonéd to profane
The power of God; yet they haue felt his wrath.
10
Repugnant, he shall not for ever be
Vnpunishéd; for these are, Equally
“In him, Mercy & Wrath: he can forgiue
“Beyond all Crime; but if the sinner live
“Obstinate in Offence, his Clemencie
“Is then reverst; he thunders, & they die.
“Both equall in him, and both Infinite,
“Rewarding Men, as they doe wrong or right.
The Man of Rapine shall not have his prize
Secure for euer; but the Iniuries
Which he did, Whilome, shall be iudgéd now:
The Righteous, contrarie, shall one day know
Reward for all his suff'rings: ev'n the least
Of Charitie shall have reward; for Blest
“Or Reprobate, God finds Mortalitie
“In their good-workes, or their Iniquitie.
Hee made obdure the heart of yt proud King
Pharoh, that his more Glory thence might Spring,
To all the World, with terror seen and knowne;
Vnseene by him, unknowne by him alone.
Full in his Mercy t' euery liveing thing,
He did his Light, from shades of darknes bring.
Secure for euer; but the Iniuries
Which he did, Whilome, shall be iudgéd now:
The Righteous, contrarie, shall one day know
Reward for all his suff'rings: ev'n the least
Of Charitie shall have reward; for Blest
“Or Reprobate, God finds Mortalitie
“In their good-workes, or their Iniquitie.
Hee made obdure the heart of yt proud King
Pharoh, that his more Glory thence might Spring,
To all the World, with terror seen and knowne;
Vnseene by him, unknowne by him alone.
Full in his Mercy t' euery liveing thing,
He did his Light, from shades of darknes bring.
Say not, oh say not thou! I will obscure,
In desart place, my selfe, and be secure
From vengeance. Shall God remember mee
From Heaven? Poore Atome of Mortalitye!
Shall I (noe I will 'scape) amongst soe many
Be mark't for Iustice? & from his Eyes can I
Not slip away? In such a throng of Soules
Mine is not seene to. Thus the voice of Fooles!
But, loe! the Heauens, and those Imperiall Skyes,
The Sea, the Earth, and all that therein is,
Shall tremble when he cometh; Mountains Shall,
And Hills Inferior, the foundations all
Of Earth, be rent with horror, when his Eye
Shall fix vpon them. Noe heart Worthylye
Can conceiue these things. Who of humane birth
Can apprehend his waies? or who set forth?
'Tis as a Tempest wch Man cannot see;
For his workes most are in obscuritie.
Who can (meer Dust and Ashes) set to Light
His workes of Iustice? or sustaine the waight,
Who can, the strongest? for his Covenant
Is a farre off, beyond the Arrogant
Designe of Mortalls; the exact probation
Of vertue knowne is in the Consamation.
In desart place, my selfe, and be secure
From vengeance. Shall God remember mee
From Heaven? Poore Atome of Mortalitye!
Shall I (noe I will 'scape) amongst soe many
Be mark't for Iustice? & from his Eyes can I
11
Mine is not seene to. Thus the voice of Fooles!
But, loe! the Heauens, and those Imperiall Skyes,
The Sea, the Earth, and all that therein is,
Shall tremble when he cometh; Mountains Shall,
And Hills Inferior, the foundations all
Of Earth, be rent with horror, when his Eye
Shall fix vpon them. Noe heart Worthylye
Can conceiue these things. Who of humane birth
Can apprehend his waies? or who set forth?
'Tis as a Tempest wch Man cannot see;
For his workes most are in obscuritie.
Who can (meer Dust and Ashes) set to Light
His workes of Iustice? or sustaine the waight,
Who can, the strongest? for his Covenant
Is a farre off, beyond the Arrogant
Designe of Mortalls; the exact probation
Of vertue knowne is in the Consamation.
Hee that wants Knowledge will be busied
In triviall things, and the foole, Misled,
Runs headlong on. My Son, heare what I Say;
Give Serious Attention, let thy heart weigh
And prize my words; I will give documents
Of great availe, and to the diligent
Propose an exact lesson. See from first
The workes of God in Iudgment are rehearst;
And from the Instant of Creation,
He gave the parts their disposition.
In triviall things, and the foole, Misled,
Runs headlong on. My Son, heare what I Say;
Give Serious Attention, let thy heart weigh
And prize my words; I will give documents
Of great availe, and to the diligent
Propose an exact lesson. See from first
The workes of God in Iudgment are rehearst;
And from the Instant of Creation,
He gave the parts their disposition.
12
Hee did adorne his workes; and in his hand,
Eternally doe their beginnings stand;
They flourish ever, by the breath of heaven;
They never sweat to live, but have it given,
Without or toyle, or Travell; none of them
Disturbeth other; they are still the same;
They grudge not Heaven's decree. After this done,
The Great Creator graciously look't downe
Vpon the Earth, and by his Powerfull breath,
Hee gave an Ample Blessing; coveréd hath
Her face with liveing Creatures, from Earth borne,
And shall (soe God ordain's) to earth returne.
Eternally doe their beginnings stand;
They flourish ever, by the breath of heaven;
They never sweat to live, but have it given,
Without or toyle, or Travell; none of them
Disturbeth other; they are still the same;
They grudge not Heaven's decree. After this done,
The Great Creator graciously look't downe
Vpon the Earth, and by his Powerfull breath,
Hee gave an Ample Blessing; coveréd hath
Her face with liveing Creatures, from Earth borne,
And shall (soe God ordain's) to earth returne.
| Chap. xvi. The poems of George Daniel | |